Banks Mining slash emissions with biofuel switch
Quarrying and mining firm cuts 2,084 tonnes of CO₂ using Dieselite biodiesel blend
BANKS Mining, a long-established mining and quarrying company, have partnered with biodiesel supplier Argent Energy to lower carbon emissions from their operations.
Known for their large-scale surface mining operations and one of the UK’s biggest wholly owned earthmoving fleets, Banks Mining have taken a major step forward in reducing its carbon footprint by phasing out standard fossil diesel in favour of Dieselite.
So far, the switch has delivered a CO₂ reduction of 2,084 tonnes – around 17% fewer greenhouse gas emissions in 2025 compared with using conventional diesel alone.
This progress has been achieved through a staged rollout of the Dieselite range, starting with B10 (10% biodiesel) and increasing through B16 (16%), B20 (20%), and now B30 (30%), which contains 30% certified waste-derived biodiesel. Importantly, these fuels have been integrated across Banks Mining’s operations without any loss of performance or reliability.
The biodiesel element in Dieselite is produced at Argent Energy’s Stanlow facility, using only verified end-of-life waste materials – capable of delivering up to 90% CO₂ savings compared with fossil diesel.
Colin Duke, head of sales at Argent Energy, said: ‘Supporting customers on their decarbonization journeys is something we’re proud to be part of. Banks Mining has made a major step by cutting emissions in a hard-to-decarbonize sector, and it is proof of what can be done now to reduce emissions.’
Gemma Dickenson, contracts director at Banks Mining, added: ‘Reducing our environmental impact is a key focus for us that requires creativity, innovation, and flexible thinking. We’re actively looking to introduce new technologies and approaches that have the potential to help turn plans into tangible environmental gains.
‘The support we are getting from Argent Energy and its Dieselite fuel is an important step in reducing our environmental impact and assisting our customers in achieving their own environmental goals while continuing to provide reliable and safe mineral operations.’
The transition to Dieselite is a key pillar of Banks Mining’s wider sustainability strategy, which also includes investment in equipment designed to run on both biofuels and electric power. Together, the partnership demonstrates how waste-based fuels such as Dieselite can deliver meaningful, real-world emissions cuts today, offering a practical route to decarbonization for sectors that are traditionally hard to electrify.
